Athletic News
Four Student-Athletes Honored by SFHS Booster Club
SACRAMENTO, Calif. – The SFHS Booster Club recognized four senior student-athletes at the 2014 Awards Ceremony.
Senior Lauren LaRocco was named the SFHS Booster Club Scholar-Athlete Scholarship recipient, while Brinnley Barthels, Emily Laskin and Jane Sadler were named winners of the SFHS Booster Club Leadership Scholarship.
Seniors Lead Softball Victory over Oak Ridge
SACRAMENTO, Calif. – In their final game, it was only fitting that the seniors led the way for the St. Francis softball team.
Amy Marks pitched a complete game and hit a home run and the four seniors combined for five hits, five runs and six RBI.
“I could not imagine a better way to end it,” said Marks following the game. “I was really glad our team was able to pull it together and win. My four years, it did not matter if we won or lost, but it definitely is better to go out with a positive ending.”
Lacrosse Falls at San Ramon Valley
SAN RAMON, Calif. – The St. Francis lacrosse team lost 16-9 at San Ramon Valley Tuesday night.
Colleen McClain scored three times and Hayley Kusserow and Sarah Westover each added two goals in the loss.Erika Plamer and Meg Anderson each added a goal for the Troubadours.
St. Francis dropped to 9-8 on the season. The Troubies play at Granite Bay on Thursday to close the regular season. North Coast Section playoff brackets will be announced on Saturday.
Four Players Score in Soccer’s Playoff Opener
SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Junior Carmel Stralen scored 42 seconds into the game to help St. Francis post a 4-2 win over No. 13 seed Armijo in the first round of the Sac-Joaquin Section playoffs.
“It was very exciting,” said Stralen, a 5-5 midfielder from Sacramento. “It was good to start off strong so we had the momentum to do well for the rest of the game.”
Swimming Wins Delta River League Title
EL DORADO HILLS, Calif. – The St. Francis swimming team won the Delta River League title for the sixth consecutive season, recording an impressive 19 event wins Saturday at the El Dorado Hills swimming complex.
“It was a strong performance,” said Head Coach Richard Levin. “I was really pleased with the swims. The kids came together as a team. They swam fast and swam hard to come out on top.”
Seniors Maddie Johnson and AnnClaire MacArt and sophomore Chloe Mitchell each won two events Saturday.
St. Francis Sweeps Meet of Champion Relays
SACRAMENTO, Calif. – St. Francis won the 4×100 and 4×400-meter relays Saturday at the Meet of Champions in section-leading times in both events. The Troubadour foursome of sophomore Ariane Arndt, sophomore Kiani Reyna, sophomore Lillian Enes and junior Sydney Hunter ran together to capture both races.
Arndt led off the 4×400 to close the meet Saturday night. She got the Troubadours off to a good start that the team built on with each leg.
Diving Preps for Section Meet at Jesuit Invitational
RIO LINDA, Calif. – Completing their 11-dive list, junior Patty Sullivan and senior Allison Autrey led the St. Francis diving team at the Jesuit Invitational on Saturday.
Sullivan was the top finisher at the meet for the Troubadours, posting a 355.85 total to finish fifth overall. Teammate Allison Autrey, who will dive for UC Davis next year, was sixth with a score of 349.80.
Lacrosse Posts Decisive Victory over Casa Roble
ORANGEVALE, Calif. – The St. Francis lacrosse team posted a 19-1 victory over Casa Roble Friday night as five players had multi-goal scoring games.
Junior Hayley Kusserow led the offensive charge with four goals, while Colleen McClain added three goals. Sarah Westover, Ryleigh Bone and Maggie Anderson added two goals each in the winning effort.
Erika Palmer, Meg Anderson, Ryanne Brust, Lyndsay Carpenter, Kelly Chavez and Mia Bonini also scored in the game.
Soccer Garners No. 4 Seed in Section Playoffs
SACRAMENTO, Calif. – The St. Francis soccer team was awarded a No. 4 seed in the Sac Joaquin Section playoffs starting Tuesday, May 6. The Troubadours will host No. 13 Armijo out of the Monticello Empire League at 4 p.m. at St. Francis.
“I think it is fair,” said Head Coach Rosella Kelly, who is in her second season leading the program. “We are prepared for anything. We are going to do our best regardless. It is always nice to have the home-field advantage.”
Track and Field Defeats Sheldon in Final Dual Meet
SACRAMENTO, Calif. – The St. Francis track and field team defeated Sheldon 85-47 on Wednesday in the final dual meet of the season. The Troubadours remained undefeated on the season in Delta River League action.
Junior Sydney Hunter won the 200 meters in a 25.44 and finished second in the 100 meters in a personal-best 12.57.Junior Miranda Myers won the 1600m in 5:19.78, while Maddy Strong won the 3200 meters in 13:41.41.
St. Francis Golf Coach Mah-Lyford Named CCA Northern California Girls’ Golf Coach of the Year
SACRAMENTO, Calif. – St. Francis golf coach Cindy Mah-Lyford has been named the Northern California Girls’ Golf Coach of the Year by the California Coaches’ Association. She will be honored at the CCA Coach of the Year Banquet at the Double Tree by Hilton Hotel in Sacramento on June 14.
Softball Loses to Sheldon 9-2 Ending Playoff Hopes
SACRAMENTO, Calif. – The St. Francis softball team lost to Sheldon 9-2 Thursday, dropping the Troubadours out of playoff contention.
“It has been a rough season for us,” said Viramontes. “At the end of our season, we started to rally and had a lot more energy. It has been a better atmosphere to play in. I am really proud of my team. We fought hard and never gave up.”
Senior Alexis Viramontes went 2-for-2 with a home run and walk and Alejandra Garcia was 3-for-4 in the contest.
Softball Posts Home Win over Pleasant Grove
SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Needing a win to keep their playoff hopes alive, senior Amy Marks pitched a complete game and knocked in two runs to help St. Francis upset Pleasant Grove Wednesday 5-2.
“It was a nerve-wracking game because we have to win every game to make to the playoffs,” said Marks. “PG is always one of our biggest games and the last time we beat them was my sophomore year. We were just trying to win every inning. I was really proud of our team. Every time they scored we got them back with one or more.”
Soccer Closes Home Schedule with Win over Sheldon
SACRAMENTO, Calif. – St. Francis closed out its home regular season schedule with a 2-1 victory over Sheldon in the Senior Game. The Troubadours honored Mia Arostegui, Terra Carden, Nina Madsen, Ashley Kyalwazi and Jenna Mark in pregame ceremonies.
Junior Rachel Schaefer gave St. Francis the early 1-0, scoring off a header on an assist by Emma Granner. Sheldon tied the game later in the half.
“We really wanted to win to help get a good placement for playoffs,” said Schaefer, who scored her fourth goal of the season. “It was a good start to the game.”
Lacrosse Drops Senior Night Game to Davis
SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Junior Hayley Kusserow scored four goals but it was not enough as Davis spoiled the St. Francis senior game with a 13-10 victory in the home regular season final for the Troubadours.
Seniors Ryanne Brust, Lyndsay Carpenter, Mackenzie Campbell and Jane Sadler were playing their final home games and were honored with their parents in a pre-game ceremony.
Davis led 6-5 at the break and held off St. Francis in the second half. The Troubadours won only five draws in the contest. Goalie Maddie Merwin made nine saves in the goal.
Track and Field Wins Glenn Poole Invitational
ROSEVILLE, Calif. – The St. Francis track and field team won four events and placed second in five others to post a commanding victory at the Glenn Poole Invitational Saturday.
“It was a good meet considering we are in our second week of the Easter Break,” said Head Coach John DuCray. “We try to get some work in and give the girls some time off. Now we have 3-4 weeks to get ready for the big stuff at the end of the year.”
St. Francis won the meet, easily out-scoring the other top schools in the field including Franklin, Reno and Sheldon.
Golfer Vardanega to Play for Pomona-Pitzer Golf Program
SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Senior Victoria Vardanega will play golf for Pomona-Pitzer next fall and attend Pomona College. She is one of 32 Troubadours to sign to play collegiate athletics with their schools next fall.
“My freshmen year I barely made the varsity team,” recalled Vardanega. “It really motivated me to try harder. Seeing all the great players and having them above me, I played more over the summer, took serious lessons and practiced more. To be able to be rewarded for my hard work and play collegiate golf is such a blessing.”
Ruggles Sets School Record in the Shot Put
SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Samantha Ruggles set a new school record in the shot put with a throw of 38-3.25 Wednesday at the dual meet at American River College, breaking the mark set by Amanda Helmer of 37-10 at the 2005 Gold River Invitational.
The Troubadours defeated Oak Ridge (95-41) and Folsom (105-22) in winning 14 of the 16 events in the meet.
Softball Posts Win over Folsom, Celebrates 25 Years for LoGiudice
SACRAMENTO, Calif. – St. Francis recorded 14 hits in posting a 15-1 victory over Folsom Tuesday afternoon at Schuster Field. Four players recorded two or more hits in the game, including a pair of three-hit games by Rhyann O’Mara and Amy Marks.
“We kept the momentum going today after a tough game yesterday,” said senior Alejandra Garcia. “Every girl contributed today and we felt good.”
Marks got the win by allowing just one run over three innings. Emily Ainsley pitched two scoreless innings in relief.
Softball Falls at Ponderosa 4-3
SHINGLE SPRINGS, Calif. – St. Francis had the bases loaded with no outs in the sixth inning but managed just a single run as Ponderosa held on for a 4-3 victory Tuesday.
The Troubadours opened the game with two runs in the first inning on a two-run home run by Alejandra Garcia, who went 2-for-2 with two walks in the game. The Bruins responded with three runs in the bottom of the inning off Amy Marks, who allowed four runs on six hits.